Abu Dhabi Fund for Development

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) is an external development-finance institution established by the government of Abu Dhabi. It supports economic and social development in developing countries through development loans, grants and project financing. Its areas of activity commonly include public infrastructure, energy, transport, water, agriculture, health and education. ADFD is not a consumer-facing commercial bank; its role is centered on government-to-government development cooperation and project finance. Projects may be funded independently or alongside recipient governments, international development institutions and other financing partners. Current management, portfolio size, annual funding figures and detailed operating markets are not included here without sufficiently reliable sources.

Established in 1971, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development became an important financial institution through which the Abu Dhabi government participates in international development cooperation. Its role is to provide funding for projects with public-development significance in developing countries, using loans, grants and co-financing arrangements. As international development-finance cooperation expanded, its activities came to cover multiple sectors and countries, but specific projects, amounts and recipient countries are not listed here without reliable sources. Available information is insufficient to describe its successive leadership, organizational structure and recent strategic changes in detail.

• 1971

  Establishment of the institution

  The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development was established, taking on functions related to foreign development financing and international development assistance.

A government-backed international development finance and foreign aid institution

• development finance

  Development loans

  Financing provided to governments or public projects in developing countries, generally supporting infrastructure, economic growth or social-development objectives.

• development assistance

  Development grants

  Aid funding for public-development projects in developing countries, commonly in infrastructure and social services rather than conventional banking or consumer-credit activities.

• project finance

  Project co-financing

  Joint financing arranged with recipient governments, international institutions or other financiers for large public infrastructure and socio-economic projects.